The New Guinea Singing Dog History
and Breed Profile*

HISTORY

First brought to the attention of the scientific community in the early 1900's, the New Guinea Singing Dog (NGSD) was initially described as a distinct species. The first pair of NGSDs to leave New Guinea, brought out of the Southern Highlands District of Papua New Guinea by Mr. E. Troughton, went to the Taronga Zoo, Sydney, Australia in 1957. In 1958, Troughton gave the NGSD the scientific name Canis hallstromi after Sir Edward Hallstrom, then President of the Taronga Zoo. In 1969 the NGSD was reclassified as a member of the dingo group, Canis lupus (or familiaris) dingo. The NGSD's precise taxonomic status and phylogenetic relationships to the rest of the genus Canis are matters of current scientific controversy. Studies, especially DNA analysis, are now beginning to suggest that NGSDs almost certainly differ from the modern breeds of dog to a greater degree than those breeds differ from each other. Further studies may eventually justify its separation from the Australian Dingo through the subspecies designation Canis lupus (or familiaris) hallstromi. However they are classified, it is generally accepted that the NGSD is the most primitive "domestic" dog, brought to the island at least 6,000 years ago, and kept pure do to isolation from other types of dogs until the 1950's. They are like a living fossil.

Almost all of the NGSDs in North America have descended from the original Taronga Zoo pair. Offspring of this founder pair had been widely distributed to zoos in America and Europe. In 1976 an expedition from the Staatliche Museum Preussischer Kulturbestiz Berlin/ Museum fur Volkerkunde obtained five additional dogs from the in Irian Jaya. These were sent to the Domestic Animal Institute in Keil, Germany. A pair from this line was imported to the Sedgwick County Zoo, Wichita, Kansas, in 1987, and although the male has failed to reproduce, the female, Olga, has produced several lifters by a Taronga line male. Also in 1987 a male, Darkie, which the Taronga Zoo indicated was out of a "wild-caught" female in the breeding colony at the Baiyer River Sanctuary in Mt. Hagen, New Guinea, and several Taronga females were imported by Sheryl Langan to Canada. They failed to reproduce there, and in 1994, Darkie, at 14 years of age, was transferred to Dr. I. Lehr Brisbin, Jr., at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia. Even at that advanced age, and for two subsequent seasons, Darkie was successfully bred to Dr. Brisbin's female Scratchley, a Dinkum (Taronga)/Olga cross female. This breeding has hopefully preserved as much genetic variation as possible for the future of the breed.

The entire captive NGSD population, estimated in 1995 to be approximately 100 animals, has thus descended from only eight wild caught founders. Efforts to capture additional wild dogs in the New Guinea Highlands have so far proved futile. Droppings and tracks were seen and howls heard during preliminary studies at a remote Highland location of Papua by both Robert Bino in 1993 - 94 and James McIntyre in 1996. Hope remains that the gene pool will be expanded when the resources become available to finance a thorough hunt for additional wild breeding stock.

PROFILE

NGSD differ from man-made breeds of dog in several ways. Physically, their upper first molar, called a carnassial tooth, is large, usually greater than 10% of the length of the skull, a trait normally present only in wild canid species such as wolves. NGSD eyes seem to be more light reflective than domestic dogs', shining bright green in low light. Like the Basenji, an African pariah breed, and the Australian Dingo, the NGSD has, on average, only one heat per year in the fall in the Southern Hemisphere. Modern breeds average two heats per year that are not dependent upon environmental cues. The NGSD also appears to have some behaviors that differ from that of wolves and dogs. They drop their ears forward and down, or out and down ("airplane ears"), in submission rather than folding them back flat against the head. The NGSD play invitation appears to be a "stalking" posture, performed either standing still or in motion, rather than the dog/wolf play bow (forequarters lowered and rump high) and tail wag. The entire body is lowered and an intent, staring gaze is directed toward the playmate being solicited. They also have an "open-mouth play bite" that has not been recorded for dogs or wolves, but is seen in coyotes, in which the mouth is opened wide and pressed over the neck or back of the playmate. Although in general their vocalizations are similar to the wolf, Dingo and Basenji, the NGSD howl and several of their other vocalizations are unique. Sonograms show their howl to be very different from those made by any domestic or wild dog. Dr. Mark Feinstein, Hampshire College, Amherst, Massachusetts, a canid vocalization specialist, has begun a study of the NGSD vocalizations.

For the last few years Dr. I. Lehr Brisbin, Jr., has, in an effort to conserve this dog, which is now rarely kept in zoo collections because of its re-classification mentioned above, been providing NGSD to qualified persons who would promote them as household pets and show animals. Placed as puppies, these NGSD have become extremely affectionate and enjoyable companion animals. They have adapted to environments ranging from New York City apartments to farms. However, because of their recent wild origin, NGSDs have very intense hunting drives and associated strong tendencies to work at escaping any barrier restricting their movements, so sensible precautions must be taken to keep both them and their potential prey (birds, squirrels, rabbits, etc.) safe. Like other wild and primitive dogs, NGSD are adept climbers and determined diggers, so fences where NGSDs will be left unsupervised, even large yards, must have footings and toppers to prevent escapes. Doors and gates opening to unfenced areas must be used with caution, and the dogs taught to wait for permission to exit after their leashes have been put on. They are innately "polite" and want to avoid upsetting their human pack leader, so once they understand proper behavior at exits, they normally do not attempt to squeeze out past someone going out a door.

When NGSDs realize they are suddenly free, they do not run "away from" home and their owner. They run toward adventure, toward the bird flitting in the bush, toward the mouse in the grass. In a perfectly safe world they would undoubtedly return home when they got tired and hungry, and several lucky NGSD owners have reported their escaped dogs were found lying on their porches when they returned home. The best way to catch a loose NGSD (or any of the other independent breeds, such as the Basenji, Shiba Inu and the terriers) is to have a lure, such as an old white sock or strips of white cloth tied to the end of a rope, to entice them back to play, or to drop to the ground and make strange noises until their curiosity draws them close enough for you to calmly and securely take hold of. They are so fast and agile there is no hope of catching unless they get into a small enclosed area, so running after a loose NGSD or grabbing wildly at them is the worst possible thing to do. That is how they learn they are faster than humans. Keep away is a favorite NGSD game. In order to become acceptable house pets most NGSD require some training. Due to their natural curiosity and active exploratory behavior, untrained NGSDs could, like monkeys, be very destructive if left to run the house unsupervised for extended periods. However, they rapidly learn what to leave alone if given firm verbal reprimands, and then they will usually "honor" their owners limits. Due to their sensitive natures, NGSD react negatively to physical punishment, which can slow the learning process. Part of the breed's charm is their high intelligence and independent nature, and they should not be expected to perform obedience commands such as "stay" as well as breeds that have been selected specifically for their ability to cooperate in human endeavors. In the wild an individual NGSD's life depended upon it making its own decisions. They have not evolved the emotional dependence upon man that creates a desire to work for him, although they do develop very strong attachments to their human "pack" members and become distressed when separated from them. Like a cat, and other animals still close to their wild behaviors, they will be your loving friend and companion, but never your slave. NGSD obviously derive much pleasure from human contact. When well socialized, they are very affectionate with people they know, ever ready to give their human friends a rapid-fire series of "kisses." They have an amazing capacity to totally relax their bodies like an under-stuffed rag doll while being held and petted by someone they trust. Unless they fall asleep in your arms - a common occurrence when they are in a secure environment and nothing more exciting attracts their attention - these "love sessions" usually last for only a few minutes. Then the young ones want to be off playing or exploring again, and the mature NGSDs will settle nearby where they can keep "their" human in view. The only problem with well socialized Singers and visiting humans is keeping them out of visitors' laps!

Because of their wild heritage of natural caution, adult NGSDs that were not properly socialized as young puppies are often wary of strangers, and should be given the opportunity to make the first advances. They are NOT aggressive, and never "attack." Unless they have been trained to accept handling by strangers, the NGSD's first reaction to a strange person suddenly reaching out toward them is to leap away and run to a "safe" distance, then turn and approach cautiously, observing the person. If the person stays still and talks softly, even an undersocialized Singer will usually come up and allow petting around the head and then, if nothing spooks them again, on the rest of the body. Like most wild and domestic dogs, the only time a NGSD might try to bite is if they feel a need to defend themselves from what they perceive as aggression by a human, such as being grabbed and forcefully held by a stranger. NGSD have no known breed-specific health or genetic problems, although monorchidism is fairly common and one breeder reported puppies born with anal atresia (no anal opening). They are very hardy and adapt to any climate, if given adequate shelter. They do well on any quality dog kibble or canned dog food and do not require any special supplements. Many amateur NGSD keepers have made the mistake of feeding an overabundance of meat, especially red meat and chicken parts and the dogs become malnourished on this unbalanced diet.

REGISTRIES AND "PAPERS"

The American Rare Breed Association recognizes the NGSD for competition at its shows and the first ARBA NGSD champion was recorded in 1997. The well-respected United Kennel Club, second largest and oldest (one year younger than the American Kennel Club) dog registry service in the USA, began registering them in January 1996, based on ISIS (the International Species Information System used by zoos) numbers and the NGSD Stud Book established by Dr. I. Lehr Brisbin, Jr. There is at least one other "registry service" currently accepting NGSDS. However, as it requires no documentation of purebred status other than the "word" of the person applying for the registration, listing is of dubious value. Every NGSD should come with a pedigree listing ISIS or United Kennel Club registration numbers and a bill of sale that includes the breeders name, dog's birth date and the sire and dam's full names and numbers. To avoid misunderstandings, any additional conditions on the sale or transfer, such as health guarantees or neuter agreements should also be written into the bill of sale and signed by all parties to the transaction. Reputable breeders sometimes make NGSDs available for adoption by qualified persons wishing to engage in research on their behavior, genetics, etc.

A New Guinea Singing Dog Conservation Society has been established. The organization's goals are to encourage and participate in non-invasive NGSD research and to promote the preservation this ancient dog. For more information on the NGSD and the NGSDCS contact the representative listed below.

NGSDS
Janice Koler-Matznick
5265 Old Stage Road
Central Point, OR 97502  USA
Phone: 541-664-4023
E-Mail: jkoler@ccountry.com

* NOTE: This information has been contributed by, and is property of The New Guinea Singing Dog Club of America, and is gratefully used here with permission.

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